Obama Official: Religion ‘Not Driving Extreme Violence’ in Nigeria… a Day After Islamists Slaughter 40+ Christians
- Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:11am by
Billy Hallowell
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Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson
The radical Islamist group known as Boko Haram has killed more than 390 people in Nigeria this year, alone. The Associated Press reports that the group has slaughtered Christians, Muslims and foreigners.
Yet, just days after an Easter-day attack during which more than 40 Christian church-goers were killed, an Obama administration official made the allegation that “religion is not driving extreme violence” in Nigeria.
“I want to take this opportunity to stress one key point and that is that religion is not driving extremist violence either in Jos or northern Nigeria,” proclaimed Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson on Monday. “While some seek to inflame Muslim-Christian tensions, Nigeria’s ethnic and religious diversity, like our own in this country, is a source of strength, not weakness and there are many examples across Nigeria of communities working across religious lines to protect one another.”
Carson was speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. at a forum on U.S. policy toward Nigeria. CNS News has more about his address:
As CNSNews.com previously reported, Boko Haram, whose name translated into “Western education is forbidden,” has links to al-Qaeda’s North Africa affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and has repeatedly vowed to cleanse northern Nigeria of minority Christians, and is responsible for more than 1,000 deaths since mid-2009.
Carson spoke at length about the terrorist group, saying Boko Haram “capitalizes on popular frustrations with the nation’s leaders,” and “seeks to humiliate and undermine the government and to exploit religious differences in order to create chaos and to make Nigeria ungovernable.” [...]
“Boko Haram’s attacks on churches and mosques are particularly disturbing because they are intended to inflame religious tensions and upset the nation’s social cohesion, although Boko Haram is reviled throughout Nigeria and offers no practical solutions to the country’s problems,” Carson said.
The Obama administration official maintains that the terrorist group is not a “monolithic, homogeneous organization.” It is a large body with a primary focus of discrediting the Nigerian government, he explains. Still, considering the past violence being used in the region, it’s hard to digest the notion that religion — particularly when considering the Christian individuals who are targeted — isn’t driving the horrific issues present in the nation.
Watch Carson make these remarks, below:
In January, The Blaze’s Buck Sexton explored whether a religious civil war is on the horizon in Nigeria, writing:
…the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram…is pushing for a Sharia-compliant Nigeria with a campaign of brutal violence against Christians who make up roughly half the country. The country could soon see spiraling violence as Christians defend themselves — and possibly retaliate.
The Telegraph surmised that Islamic violence against Christians “has sparked fears of a wider religious conflict in a country whose 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.”
Clearly, it’s evident that religion — to some degree — is driving extreme violence in the African nation.
(H/T: Gateway Pundit)
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Comments (157)
DSTSS2010
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:53amBS from BO and Co. You didn’t expect anything else did you?
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:03amBlack is white and white is black…..sweet is sour and sour is sweet…..Cold is hot and hot is cold…..Trust me I’m your president, would I lie to you?????
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:23amisn’t the ignorance of the obama administration refreshing. jeez what a bunch of idiots.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:28amDUH!!! Oblama and his idiotic cohorts are unable to even put two and two together, it is patenely obvious that Islamists are waging a full scale war on Christians.
When it comes to this administration, the phrase “The blind leading the blind” is the understatement of the century!!!!!
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:38amAnd hunger doesn’t drive me to the refrigerator.
I’d say they are idiots, but that would imply they don’t know what they are doing. They do know.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:41amFrom one MUSLIM regime to another bunch or murdering muslims … yea RIGHT!
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:21amCan you believe there are people out there who actually believe this load of cr@p?
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:47amThis administration and our media is the most Orwellian it’s ever been.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:30amAt what point do we as Christian just turn on this White House,the democrats,and the churches,mosques,and temples that lie everyday in their quest for political elistism.
Report Post »We need a new standing Army of non-government soldiers ready at the wait for what Obama and his type have palnned.
Washington D.C. has become the most corrupt government in the history of the world. Most are not our representative but rather the representatives of tyranny and elitism.
The words of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense should again be at the fore front of what the citzens of the Republic need to debate. We are either at the end of tolerance to this tyrannical government or the well down the path of total servitude.
Question is WHICH ONE will be the future of America.
Bill Rowland
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:09pmThis from the boys who brought you hope and change. The guys who said that the Musli brotherhood was a reasonable, moderate group we could work with. The president who said the police acted stupidly. The committee who loaned all that stimulus money to the “green” industry.
They will assure you that they know what they are dong – trust me, I‘m from the government ad I’m here to help.
The attacks are being instituted by a Islamic group that vows to kill or convert all infidels. Christians are considered to be hereitics and infidels and must be attacked because of their beliefs. If that is not the basis for a religious war I’ll kiss your rosy red rectum.
There has to be some reason for this falsehood. It could be a diversion to allow th eislamic community to get the upper hand and discourage the christians from retaliation, thereby giving the muslims a headstart on a victory.
Remember when you deal with Sweet Old Barack watch the other hand.
OMG 2012
Report Post »Marci
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:43pmWhat the h??? Why is it necessary for someone in our government to stand up and give a statement coddling Islam after they yet again kill more Christians? One has to wonder why they don’t opt to instead keep silent.
Report Post »jacques.daspy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 4:40pmBoka Haram is an Shiite Islamic that is opposed to any form of western education. Their name actually means “western education forbidden.” The are opposed to both Sunni Islam and Christianity and impose the Koranic solution to their objective.Shiite are actually opposed to any education (western is a real big place) where as the Sunni Muslims are not.
Both the Sunnis and the Christians are beginning to take umbrage and counter attack. The majority of the country are Sunnis and are considered heretic rather than the Christian infidels. The members of the resident religions are beginning to fight back and have even taken up the machete while walking in the woods to the neighborhood Boka Haram camp.
I am clueless as to what part of extreme religious violence that the Obama administration is not aware of. Granted, it is not a hot item on the major TV news shows, but it you read your news, it’s not hard to miss.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:26amAnd Dearborn Mich, has the biggest Mosque in American, what can go wrong ?
It‘s ’the beauty of diversity” now let’s hold hands and sing “we are the world”
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:29amAssistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, your speech reminded me of something: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE
Report Post »CougarNick78
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:52amHey, atheists, where’s your critique of the Muslims? I notice you’re dead silent when Christians get killed. But, hey, that’s fine in your sick disgusting minds, right? Stalin would be proud of your kind.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:16amnice post. yes they get mighty silent when boko haram is brought up.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:42amExcellent Point .. crickets crickets crickets!
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:43amAtheist. Conservative. Constitutionalist. Obama opponent. Murder opponent. Communism opponent. Freedom of religion proponent. Muslim culture and Islamist detractor. Atheists are not monolithic. Stop.
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:45ama 666
Report Post »youdidthis
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:36pmwtf are you babbling about…
Report Post »lvl12
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:17pmAs an atheist I’ll try to explain a few things. Feel free to ask questions, I’m nice. Atheism isn’t a church, is simply means we don’t believe in a supernatural god. From there our beliefs vary quite a bit. My theory is that you don’t see a lot of anti-muslim sentiment from atheists is because in north america, the prevailing religion is Christianity and it’s many forms. Thankfully, we don‘t live in a time where the church is allowed to torture us for speaking our beliefs so that’s exactly what we do.
If we lived in a country with a majority of moderate muslims we would be speaking out against them. They would probably be hindering gay people’s rights and opposing female equality too. And I know most christians don’t oppose these things either (at least in Canada) but as long as they make their voice heard we must too. I’d love to chat with you guys about your religion and atheism and morality, but these comments always get forgotten.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:38pmlvl12
Report Post »I call bs. Muslims believe in the same god. If you do not believe in god you cannot, without being a hypocrite, selectively choose your opponent for the day. I notice you do not pick a fight with the one group who have publicly stated a desire to kill all non-believers. You are, by your own definition, a non-believer and therefore enemy number one.
momsense
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:51amCan you imagine what would have happened to the Jews if Obozo had been president in the 30s and 40s?
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:11amWould have been the same. FDR didn’t lift a finger to help them either. Commies don’t like the Jews because they refuse to make The State their god.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:25amsregn, you are right. i must add that most of the world did not react to help the jews. canada, england and many other countries turned the jews away or just plain refused to help.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:43amCan you imagine what Obama would do with a SECOND TERM ???
OMG 2012!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:56amAgree the Marxists / Communists hate CAPITALISM. Their politics are their God. And HATE is the core value they are sharing, at present, with the Muslim wackos. ( Won’t be pretty when the Haters turn on one another )
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:48amyou L[e
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:09amNo, I think it would have been much worse. obama would have given hitler $4B in aid to help with his “experiment”.
Report Post »PaineSense
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:29pmLove your neighbor as yourself…Altruistic Communism
Whats mine is mine and whats yours is yours…Capitalism
Which one represents Sodom & Gemorrah? Which one represents the Kingdom of God on Earth?
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14…and have patience while God teaches us the correct path, through His Word, or pain, your choice.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:43pmSimilar to right now.
Report Post »He does not really support the Jewish state now. He is forced to make a statement in support of Israel and says to them “please wait until November”. Why? He needs American Jewish money and votes.
brntout
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:49amDid he say homogenius,instead of homogeneous,or did he(might I add without a ‘prompter) miss-speak.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:10amOh yes,yes he did.It’s pronounced like homogenize you sad-sack.
Report Post »321481
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:48amYa right, according to Obama the Sanford, Fl incident is racially motivated because a black person was killed but when Christians are killed on Easter no less by Islamists it’s just WHAT! A blind man can see that his is a terrorist act perpetrated upon Christians. If Obama and his thugs where not so dishonest they wouldn’t be a world wide laughing stock, he and his administration is an embarrassment at best and more likely … well … criminal.
Report Post »Texas.7
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:13pmHe didn’t catch the racism because there were no “police acting stupidly”
I find it amazing how the president who was supposed to bring racial healing has taken us back a hundred years, and is pushing further so that blacks feel as if they are fighting to end slavery. A false picture is being painted and people are believing the lie. And there are lots of lies.
Peace will come at great cost, “for a better life”, “for a brighter future” many will choose the wrong path, confusing truth with deception.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:47amThey L-I-E!!! Mentirosos, todos. ¡Basta ya!
When I get hacked off, I revert to Spanish! arghhh.
Thank YOU GOD for YOUR LIGHT in this ever-encroaching sewer of darkness.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:15amWell said.Two years in Spain and I still swear in native tongue,English I might add,so as to confuse the enemy.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:26amI use the Irish
Sé lsé lomlán de aoileach.
Obama makes all Americans look extremely stupid. Who believes this stuff?
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:39am@ DISMAYED VETERAN I did not know Ireland used Cyrillic language. I just thought they spoke with a wee bit of an accent. My bad for not having the opportunity to go there and mingle with the natives.Thanks.Love the Celtic Women and their music.True angelic voices.
Report Post »PaineSense
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:19pmPerfect Good God creates sewer? Does a skilled framer build a crooked house?
Report Post »Or is there something good to come out of all of this that only the omni-present perfect planner of correction could know?
I don’t know, but I know this shows me I should protect my family and community by preparing for attacks by muslims should they arise in my woods…
gmforde
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:47amYet another lie put forth by the regime. I would love to see their definition of a “religious conflict”. Attacking Christians on the holiest day of the year isn’t motivated by religion???? What is the motive for it then? It can’t be racial supremacy. It can’t be economic frustration. Maybe it’s the unspoken push to revive and expand the caliphate. Oh, but that’s religion. I couldn’t help but notice the timing of this denial as well as who made it. Our President seems to have a hangup about Islam. Gee, I wonder why.
Report Post »De minimus
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:46amPlease, Please! They have the narrative they want to present and if you start telling the truth, it will make their job more difficult!
Report Post »grudgywoof
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:54amThey are Muslims. They have infiltrated the FBI and the state department. Our government has been comprimised and we are helping to set up a global calafate! If you can’t see what Obama and his people are doing you are blind. Our only hope is millitary intervension. Christians and Jews are fuel for their 4th Reich bread ovens.
Report Post »kat747
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:35pmUnfortunately you are close with that “4th Reich bread ovens…they are already built and the barbwire on the top is facing “in” which means it will keep people “inside”. Reminds me of an account I read about Nazi Germany. There were 5 thousand Jewish People waiting to be loaded on the train for “re-location” to the death camps. There were only 5 guards with guns watching their boarding.
Report Post »5,000 Jewish People perished. How many would have lived in comparison to the bullets in those guns ?
Hopefully history will not repeat itself.
Alan
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:42amWell, one religion is driving violence. In fact, that same religion . . . er . . . we‘ll call it ’hizlum’ . . . is driving violence all over the world.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:42amBrought to you by the same administration that told us on multiple occasions that the Muslim Brotherhood is basically a community organizing group with no extremist agenda despite the fact that they assassinated Anwar Sadat and were banned from existing in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. The same all-knowing administration which had one of their mouthpieces, the Hilary, tell us that Assad in Syria was a reformer. The same all knowing, all seeing administration that led us into a kinetic non-military action in Libya whilst doing the samba in Brazil; telling us it was for humanitarian reasons–to prevent a genocide. People who use common sense (yes, Martha there are still a few of us left) would like the One or Ban Ki Moon to explain the difference between Libya and Syria.
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:35amOne of two: Extreme ignorance (stupidity, actually) or Extreme lying. No other choice here – both equally dangerous. I live in a Conservative part of the country, but sadly report the VAST majority are asleep and just go on like there is nothing wrong nationally or internationally. I am a bit frustrated, but VERY prepared. I discuss many of the stories on the Blaze and am continually shocked at how many “conservatives” have heard nothing of them and then refuse to believe me. Oh well, at least I know a few who are prepared and ready – God Bless us all.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:34amAssistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson………………Heeeeeeeeeere’s Johnnie…
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:47amHe works for US? I never knew each country had a US Assistant Secretary of State??
Report Post »jharper
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:34amPay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:33amCarson referenced Boko Haram’s attacks on churches and mosques. I haven’t heard a word about any attacks on any mosques, only attacks on Christian churches. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
This is Islam. I don’t care if it is a small group like Boko Haram or not. This is Islam.
The members of the Obama administration, like Carson, that continue to suppress the truth about Islam’s true intent and actuallly lie to cover up that intent are as guilty as the Muslims who carry out the attacks.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:43amI’ve been Googling that Mom. There’s far more attacks on Churches than mosques. (False flaggers, maybe?)
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:33amSounds like a religious war to me. Of course I have no spin common sense.
Report Post »donaldchar
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:32am“Islamists”? Please, Blaze. These are normal Muslims, simply following their prophet Mohammed’s fine example. Yes, there are many who identify themselves as “Muslims” who have never read the Qu’ran, just as there are many “Christians” who have never read the Bible. Calling yourself a “chair” doesn’t make you one. But those who honor and follow Mohammed are the real Muslims – the others may sit down.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:30amLatest reports confirm the violence is subsiding. Seems they are running out of christians.
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:28amHow is it that there is a 2006 video of Obama reciting the muslim call to prayer in flawless arabic? Is this something one would learn overnight as a curosity or is it flawless because he has repeated it over and over and over and over? A Marxist muslim as our President! To all of the dolts who voted for this bastard, stay home this year or at least- JUST VOTE ONCE!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:26amSee no evil, hear no evil…. Not when it’s moo slims attacking Christians…..
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:25amThis is outrageous.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:22amObama is just doing what he’s always done…excusing the Muslims…
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:11amIf he had a son, he would be just like them. (muslum)
Report Post »Watchyer6
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:21amAnd the Taliban, per se, is not our enemy. Do they really expect anyone to buy this crapola?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:50amI would guess that roughly 50% of the population IS buying it.
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:16amAnd in a remarkable coincidence its the same 50% who don’t pay any taxes, and the same 50% who get a government check every month. Must be a don’t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you thing.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:48amSREGN: or the “ too dumb to think for myself so I let Big Daddy think for me ” – some of the 50% who make up the Democrat base’s core.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:40pmto the repliers
Report Post »Bingo
Bingo
and Bingo.
“I’ll do any thing to keep that Obama money coming”.
imsteph
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:16amdelusional…
Report Post »head in the flippin’ sand…
there is anti Christian violence going on throughout the middle east and africa…
sanctioned openly or silent consent by ruling bodies and leading factions…
to take out the faith element from the violence-they make no sense then…
Gonzo
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:14amAs long as it’s only Christians, it’s no big deal. Right Barry?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:15amAll too true, with Mr Obama as long as the radical extremists are doing the killing then the religion is not involved; when the extremists begin to be killed, then it becomes a religious war with the Christians being blamed by him for their ‘extreme views.’
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:14amFirst, why is the Obama administration giving their point-of-view on this. Second, religion had nothing to do with this? Not buying it.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:33amWe are reaching the point where the administration directly lies to the public. Full media control will be next.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:34amMe either.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:44amWELCOME: The silence of the media shows that the Left already HAS control of the media ! Silence speaks volumes. ( just like Obama‘s and Holder’s silence in the Martin case )
Report Post »